Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are designed to
identify and resolve problems concerning health, marital difficulties, family,
finances, alcohol, drugs, the law, emotions, stress, or other things that
may affect an employee’s work performance. Generally, EAPs are provided as
a benefit to employees and their dependents at no cost to the employee. In
part, they are designed to provide intervention before an employee’s problem
becomes a job performance problem (i.e., an employer problem). Used effectively,
EAPs can increase employee morale and performance, cut down on employee turnover,
and lower mental health and other insurance costs.